AjaxLine Books

Everyday Scripting with Ruby: For Teams, Testers, and You

Are you a tester who spends more time manually creating complex test data than using it? A business analyst who seemingly went to college all those years so you can spend your days copying data from reports into spreadsheets? A programmer who can’t finish each day’s task without having to scan through version control system output, looking for the file you want?

If so, you’re wasting that computer on your desk. Offload the drudgery to where it belongs, and free yourself to do what you should be doing: thinking. All you need is a scripting language (free!), this book (cheap!), and the dedication to work through the examples and exercises.

Everyday Scripting with Ruby is divided into four parts. In the first, you’ll learn the basics of the Ruby scripting language. In the second, you’ll see how to create scripts in a steady, controlled way using test-driven design. The third part is about finding, understanding, and using the work of others–and about preparing your scripts for others to use. The fourth part, more advanced, is about saving even more time by using application frameworks.

Ruby for Rails: Ruby Techniques for Rails Developers

-The word is out: with Ruby on Rails you can build powerful Web applications easily and quickly! And just like the Rails framework itself, Rails applications are Ruby programs. That means you can’t tap into the full power of Rails unless you master the Ruby language.

Ruby for Rails, written by Ruby expert David Black (with a forward by David Heinemeier Hansson), helps Rails developers achieve Ruby mastery. Each chapter deepens your Ruby knowledge and shows you how it connects to Rails. You’ll gain confidence working with objects and classes and learn how to leverage Ruby’s elegant, expressive syntax for Rails application power. And you’ll become a better Rails developer through a deep understanding of the design of Rails itself and how to take advantage of it.

Newcomers to Ruby will find a Rails-oriented Ruby introduction that’s easy to read and that includes dynamic programming techniques, an exploration of Ruby objects, classes, and data structures, and many neat examples of Ruby and Rails code in action. Ruby for Rails: the Ruby guide for Rails developers!

What’s Inside
# Classes, modules, and objects
# Collection handling and filtering
# String and regular expression manipulation
# Exploration of the Rails source code
# Ruby dynamics
# Many more programming concepts and techniques!

The Ruby Way, Second Edition: Solutions and Techniques in Ruby Programming

Ruby is an agile object-oriented language, borrowing some of the best features
from LISP, Smalltalk, Perl, CLU, and other languages. Its popularity has grown tremendously in the five years since the first edition of this book.

The Ruby Way takes a “how-to” approach to Ruby programming with the bulk of the material consisting of more than 400 examples arranged by topic. Each example answers the question “How do I do this in Ruby?” Working along with the author, you are presented with the task description and a discussion of the technical constraints. This is followed by a step-by-step presentation of one good solution. Along the way, the author provides detailed commentary and explanations to aid your understanding.

Coverage includes

• An overview of Ruby, explaining terminology and basic principles

• Operations on low-level data types (numbers, strings, regular expressions, dates)

• The new regular expression engine (Oniguruma)

• Internationalization (I18N) and message catalogs in Ruby

• Operations on hashes, arrays, and other data structures such as stacks, trees, and graphs

• Working with general I/O, files, and persistent objects

• Database coverage including MySQL, SQLite, Oracle, DBI, and more

• Ruby-specific techniques in OOP and dynamic programming

• Graphical interfaces in Ruby (Tk, GTK+, Fox, and Qt)

• Working with Ruby threads for lightweight multitasking

• Everyday scripting and system administration in Ruby

• Working with image files, PDFs, YAML, XML, RSS, and Atom

• Testing, debugging, profiling, and packaging Ruby code

• Low-level network programming and client-server interaction

• Web development tools including Rails, Nitro, Wee, IOWA, and more

• Working with distributed Ruby, Rinda, and Ring

• Ruby development tools such as IDEs, documentation tools, and more

The source code for the book can be downloaded from www.rubyhacker.com

Hal Fulton has worked for over 15 years with variousforms of Unix, including AIX, Solaris, and Linux. He was first exposed to Ruby in 1999, and in 2001 he began work on the first edition of this book–the second Ruby book published in the English language. He has attendednumerous Ruby conferences and has given presentations at several of those, including the first European Ruby Conference.

He has two degrees in computer science from the University of Mississippi and taught computer science for four years before moving to Austin, Texas to work as a contractor for variouscompanies, including IBM Austin. Hal currently works at Broadwing Communications in Austin, Texas, maintaining a large data warehouse and related telecom applications, working daily with C++, Oracle, and, of course, Ruby.

Ruby Cookbook

Do you want to push Ruby to its limits? The Ruby Cookbook is the most comprehensive problem-solving guide to today’s hottest programming language. It gives you hundreds of solutions to real-world problems, with clear explanations and thousands of lines of code you can use in your own projects.

From data structures and algorithms, to integration with cutting-edge technologies, the Ruby Cookbook has something for every programmer. Beginners and advanced Rubyists alike will learn how to program with:

* Strings and numbers
* Arrays and hashes
* Classes, modules, and namespaces
* Reflection and metaprogramming
* XML and HTML processing
* Ruby on Rails (including Ajax integration)
* Databases
* Graphics
* Internet services like email, SSH, and BitTorrent
* Web services
* Multitasking
* Graphical and terminal interfaces

If you need to write a web application, this book shows you how to get started with Rails. If you’re a system administrator who needs to rename thousands of files, you’ll see how to use Ruby for this and other everyday tasks. You’ll learn how to read and write Excel spreadsheets, classify text with Bayesian filters, and create PDF files. We’ve even included a few silly tricks that were too cool to leave out, like how to blink the lights on your keyboard.

The Ruby Cookbook is the most useful book yet written about Ruby. When you need to solve a problem, don’t reinvent the wheel: look it up in the Cookbook.

Beginning Ruby: From Novice to Professional

Ruby is perhaps best known as the engine powering the hugely popular Ruby on Rails web framework. However, it is an extremely powerful and versatile programming language in its own right. It focuses on simplicity and offers a fully object-oriented environment.

Beginning Ruby is a thoroughly contemporary guide for every type of reader wanting to learn Ruby, from novice programmers to web developers to Ruby newcomers. It starts by explaining the principles behind object-oriented programming and within a few chapters builds toward creating a genuine Ruby application.

The book then explains key Ruby principles, such as classes and objects; projects, modules, and libraries; and other aspects of Ruby such as database access. In addition, Ruby on Rails is covered in depth, and the book’s appendixes provide essential reference information as well as a primer for experienced programmers.

About the Author
Peter Cooper is a highly experienced Ruby developer and trainer. He manages BigBold (www.bigbold.com), a Ruby training and development company, and has produced many commercial web sites using Ruby on Rails, the Ruby-based web framework. In addition, he created Code Snippets, one of the world’s largest public code repositories, and Congress, an online chat client utilizing Ajax and Ruby on Rails. He also created Feed Digest, a feed distribution service that was recently profiled by Business 2.0 magazine.

Special Edition Using Microsoft Expression Web

Special Edition Using Microsoft Expression Web

We crafted this book to grow with you, providing the reference material you need as you move toward Expression Web proficiency and use of more advanced features. If you buy only one book on Expression Web, Special Edition Using Microsoft Expression Web is the only book you need.

• Create standards-compliant websites with Expression Web that will work consistently in all browsers.
• Become proficient in the use of CSS by learning how to use the powerful CSS tools in Expression Web.
• Learn how to take advantage of ASP.NET without the need to write any code.
• Learn how to use Expression Web with the free Visual Web Developer Express Edition to develop robust ASP.NET applications.
• Add dynamic, interactive content with Behaviors and Layers.
• Design your website for accessibility using both Section 508 and WCAG compliance.

Category Web Development

Covers Microsoft Expression Web

User Level Intermediate—Advanced

“There’s definitely more to this book than just how to use Expression Web. The chapter on tag properties not only clearly explains Expression Web’s Tag Properties task pane, but it also alleviates some of the mystery behind the use of tags in HTML. This is a great book for all users of Expression Web!”

—Detra Newhouse, Readiness Lead,

Microsoft Corporation

Jim Cheshire is the owner of Jimco Software, the most well-known source of freeware add-ins for Microsoft FrontPage, and is the author of Special Edition Using Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003. Jim has been featured in numerous publications including MSDN Magazine and PC Magazine.

Jim previously worked on the FrontPage team at Microsoft and is currently an Escalation Engineer on the ASP.NET and IIS teams.

Microsoft Expression Web For Dummies

Expression Web is Microsoft’s newest tool for creating and maintaining dynamic Web sites. This FrontPage replacement offers all the simple “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” tools for creating a Web site along with some pumped up new features for working with Cascading Style Sheets and other design options. Microsoft Expression Web For Dummies arrives in time for early adopters to get a feel for how to build an attractive Web site. Author Linda Hefferman teams up with longtime FrontPage For Dummies author Asha Dornfest to show the easy way for first-time Web designers, FrontPage vets, or users of other Web design tools how to get results from Expression Web.

From the Back Cover
Covers tools for beginners and Web design pros

Create and maintain dynamic Web sites that express your personality!

Expression Web is Microsoft’s latest program for designing attractive, easy-to-navigate Web sites. Design beginners will love this book’s plain-English explanations on how to set up a new site and create Web pages. Design pros will benefit from shortcuts showing how Expression Web makes tasks like using style sheets and complying with Web standards a breeze.

• Work with text, hyperlinks, and graphics
• Use templates to streamline your site
• Tweak your pages with CSS and HTML
• Publish your site on the Internet
• Back up and move your site

Microsoft Expression Web On Demand

FOR THOSE WHO WOULD RATHER BE SHOWN HOW THAN TOLD HOW

SEE HOW TO

• Create Web sites using drag and drop controls

• Employ Cascading Style Sheets formatting and management

• Create Cascading Style Sheet layouts

• Create a page design using layout tables

• Create page transition effects and background sounds

• Add interactive buttons and create hyperlinks

• Create dynamic Web templates to reuse

• Create forms to gather online information

• Write, edit, and optimize code and scripts

• Use IntelliSense to help reduce coding errors

• Retrieve and present data from live RSS feeds

• Integrate data from databases or XML data

• Create dynamic Web content using ASP.NET technology

On the Web

This book uses real world examples to give you a context in which to use the task. This book also includes workshops to help you put together individual tasks into projects. The Expression Web example files that you need for project tasks are available at www.perspection.com

Perspection has written more than thirty-five books on a variety of computer software, including Microsoft Office 2007 and XP, Microsoft Windows Vista and XP, Apple Mac OS X Panther, Adobe Photoshop CS2, Macromedia Flash 8, Macromedia Director MX, and Macromedia Fireworks. In 1991, after working for Apple Computer and Microsoft, Steve Johnson founded Perspection, Inc. Perspection is committed to providing information and training to help people use software more effectively. Perspection has written more than 80 computer books, and sold more than 5 million copies.

Introduction

1 Getting Started with Expression Web

2 Creating a Web Site

3 Working with Web Pages

4 Working with Web Page Text

5 Working with Web Page Graphics

6 Adding Hyperlinks to Web Pages

7 Adding Interactive Behaviors

8 Adding Tables and Layout Tables

9 Adding Frames and Borders

10 Gathering User Input Using Forms

11 Creating Styles and Layouts with CSS

12 Publishing and Managing a Web Site

13 Customizing Expression Web

Index

About the Author

Steve Johnson has written more than 35 books on a variety of computer software, including Microsoft Office 2007 and 2003, Microsoft Windows Vista and XP, Apple Mac OS X Panther, Macromedia Flash MX 2004 and 8, Macromedia Director MX 2004, Macromedia Fireworks, and Adobe Photoshop CS and CS2. In 1991, after working for Apple Computer and Microsoft, Steve founded Perspection, Inc., which writes and produces software training. When he is not staying up late writing, he enjoys playing golf, gardening, and spending time with his wife, Holly, and three children, JP, Brett, and Hannah. When time permits, he likes to travel to such places as New Hampshire in October, and Hawaii. Steve and his family live in Pleasanton, California, but can also be found visiting family all over the western United States.

Microsoft Expression Blend Unleashed

Microsoft Expression Blend (formerly code-named Interactive Designer) is a brand new technology from Microsoft. It is a design tool for creating rich user interfaces in both Windows and Web based applications. It will bring a whole new dimension to the application development process. This will be one of the first books on Expression Blend, and will be essential reading for any developer who wants to get up to speed quickly on this new tool. The author assumes that the reader is already familiar with the basics of .NET development, and shows how Blend fits into the whole .NET 3.0 universe of tools, especially with Windows Presentation Foundation and XAML. (Blend is essentially a WYSIWYG front-end for WPF and XAML.) The author also shows developers how to understand and appreciate the work a designer can do with this new UI design tool. This will help designers better understand their working lifecycle, and help them to integrate UI design as a seamless part of the application development lifecycle. In short, developers who have never touched any other design tools (such as Flash) will be lost when they need to write a new application using .NET 3.0. They will need this book to learn this new approach.

Professional Expression Blend: Developing .NET Applications

* Expression Interactive Designer (EID) provides an easy interface for programming desktop applications that are both visually attractive and use advanced design features such as 3D in a functional way
* Offering an approach for and from a programmer’s perspective, this book begins with the general concepts involved with EID and the advancements in design and development that it seeks to achieve
* With the intent to add useful skills to a developer’s repertoire of knowledge, the material goes on to cover designs and file systems for using EID, XAML documents, creating building blocks (shapes, objects, graphics, textual elements, user interface controls), creating and combining scenes (layers, keyframes, storyboard), animating objects, and advanced design and animation (3D, topography, video integration, data-aware animations)